Power-operated fence post driver



Dec. 21, 1948. c. N. ANDERSON 2,456,852

POWER-OPERATED FENCE POST DRIVER Filed Jan. 11, 1946 3140mm 3 CLARENCE N. ANDERSON,

Patented Dec. 21 1948 su T STATES PATENT OFFICE Clarence N. Anderson, Northwood, Iowa Application January 11, 1946, Serial No. 640,520

. 1 e The present invention relates to new and'useiul improvements in' apparatus for driving fence posts and the like, and more particularly to a power-operated apparatus of this character capable' of being readily moved along a fence for driving the fence posts into the ground quickly, easily and effectively.

An important object of the present invention is tof 'provide' a' fence post-driving apparatus adapted for, mounting on a motor-driven vehicle equipped with a power take-off to utilize the power take-01f as a source of energy for driving the posts.

More specifically, the invention embodies an arm pivoted on'the vehicle and including a driving headadapted for engaging the upper end of the fencepost to drive the post into the ground upon a lowering movement of the arm and providing a' Winch driven by the power take-off of the vehicle for winding the cable thereon and connecting, the cable to the arm to exert downward pressure thereon for accomplishing the post-driving action.

It is also an object of the invention to provide spring" means connected'to the arm to raise the arm following completion of the post-driving action. v

A still further object is to provide an apparatus of this character of simple and practical construction, which is strong and durable, efficient and reliable in operation and otherwise well adapted forjthe purposes for'which the same is intended. "Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the motor-driven vehicle of conventional construction and which includes the channel iron frame members 5 and a power take-off shaft 1 to which a pulley 8 is secured.

A pair of channel iron frame members 9 are secured to the vehicle frame member 6 transversely of the vehicle and to which a pair of angle iron posts III are secured, the posts being secured 5 Claims. (Cl. 254-128) at their lower ends adjacent the outer ends of the frame members 9.

A pin l I extends between the posts Ill intermediate their upper and lower ends and a pin I2 extends between the upper ends of the posts.

A pair of angle iron brace rods 13 extend rearwardly from the posts ID in the region of the pin II and are connected to the rear ends of the frame members 9 by means of a bracket member I4. Vertical braces l5 also extend between the frame members 9 and the brace rods !3;

A post-driving arm I6 is pivoted at its inner end to the pin H and projects laterally outwardly at, one side of the vehicle 5 and is formed at its outer end with a downwardly extending cup-like socket l! in which the upper end of a fence post 18 is received.

A pair of angle iron frame members 19 are also secured at their inner ends to one of the vehicle frame members 6 and extend horizontally in spaced parallel relation below the frame membars 9. I

An upper pulley 20 is journaled on the ends of the frame 9 beneath the arm l6 and a lower pulley 2| is journaled on the ends of the frame members I!) below the pulley 20. A pulley 22 is also journaled in a hanger 23- below the arm it adjacent the outer end of the arm.

A cable 24 has one end attached to the under side of the arm i6 and extends downwardly under the pulley 2n and thence upwardly over the pulley 22 and downwardly around the pulley 2| for winding on a winch or drum 25 journaled on a hanger 26 extending downwardly from the frame members 9 and inner 'ends' of the frame members l9. To one end of the drum 25 is secured a pulley 2'! driven from the pulley 8 by a belt 28.

A belt tightener pulley 29 is journaled at one end of an arm 30 pivoted 0n the hanger bracket 26 for riding on the upper flight of the belt 28, the arm 30 being connected to a lever 3| by means of a link 32. The lever is pivoted to the vertical brace l5 and is urged in an upward position to release the belt tightener from the belt by a coil spring 33 mounted on the link 32 with its lower end resting on one of the frame members 9 and its upper end engaging a pin 34 carried by the link.

A pulley 35 is journaled on the pin I2 at the top of the post Ill and over which a cable 36 is trained with one end of the cable attached to the outer end of the arm [6 and the other end of the cable 35 attached to the bracket M by means of a coil spring 31.

In the operation of the device, when the lever 3| is moved downwardly to tighten the belt 28 by the and the arm i6 is then raised by the cable 36 and spring 31 to unwind the cable 24 from the drum 25 and the arm is then ready to repeat its driving operation. g

It is believed that the. details of construction, manner of use and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

It is to be understood, however, that eventhough I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is susceptible of certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the inventiomwhat is claimed is:

1. A post-driving apparatus comprisinga 'support adapted for mounting on a power-operated vehicle having a power take-oil, said support including a post, an armpivotally mounted on said post, one end of the arm engaging a post to be driven in the ground, a winch operatively connected to the power take-01f of the vehicle, and a cable connecting the arm to the winch for winding thereon to move the arm downwardly.

spring means attached to the arm for raising said arm.

3. A post-driving apparatus for motor-driven vehicles having a power take-off, said apparatus comprising a frame mounted transversely oflsaid vehicle, a post rising from the frame adjacent one side of the vehicle, an arm pivoted at one end to the post and projecting outwardly at said one side of the vehicle for engaging a post to bed'riven' into the gI'OllIld, a drum rotatably supported by the frame, drive means between thev drum and the power take-off and normally inactive, man

ual control means for placing the drum in driv ing engagement with the power take-off, a cable connecting the arm to the drumfor winding the 4 cable on the drum to lower the arm, a pulley journaled on top of the post, and a spring-biased cable extending over the pulley and connecting the arm to a part of the frame to return the arm to its raised position.

4. A power-operated post-driving apparatus for mounting on a motor vehicle having a shaft driven from said motor and a pulley secured to said shaft providing a power take-oil, comprising a support structure adapted to be secured to said vehicle, an arm providing a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting structure, said arm having an end projecting from said vehicle for engaging a post to be driven in the ground, driving "means between said pulley and said arm for, moving said-end thereof downwardly to force a post into the ground, means for operatively connecting and disconnecting said driving means 4 the loosening of from said pulley, and spring means for elevating said end of said arm upon the disconnection of said driving means from said pulley.

5; A power-operated post-drivingiapparatus for mounting on a motor d-riven vehicle 'havinga' downwardly fOIifOICihg a post into the ground;

means for-tightening and Ioosemng said belt for operatively connecting and disconnecting said; driven pulley from said power pull'emand spring means for elevating said end of said armv upon said belt.

' CLARENCE N. ANDERSON."

REFERENCES CITED The. following. references] areotrecordf immefile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Griflith June 18, 11946' 

